U17 AFCON: Golden Eaglets Sneak Into Nigeria As Team Arrive In Batches

U17 AFCON: Golden Eaglets Sneak Into Nigeria As Team Arrive In Batches

By Niyi Busari

The Nigeria U17 national team, Golden Eaglets were delayed in Algiers for extra one day after they were knocked out of the 2023 CAF U17 African Nations Cup before they were sneaked into the country in batches, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Burkina Faso edged out Nigeria 2-1 at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers on Thursday to progress to the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), and clinch Africa’s last available slot for the FIFA World Cup.

At international competition like CAF U17 AFCON, eliminated teams are expected to travel back to their country 48 hours after being knocked out of the tournament, but Golden Eaglets spent three days instead of two before arriving in batches in Nigeria on Sunday.

Though the organiser of the competition, CAF is responsible for the arrangement of their air transportation to and from the tournament but some times, CAF do allow the member association to handle the  return of their national team players and officials.

In this case however, this tabloid could not ascertain whether it was CAF or NFF that manhandled the Nigeria representatives in the competition.

It was shocking how the most successful U17 team in Africa was treated shabbily just because they were knocked out of the quarter-final.

Whether CAF was in charge of their return or not, the Nigeria football governing body should have prevented the young boys who traveled out of the country for the first time to be treated in such manner.

Nine players flew from Algiers to Abuja without Nigeria Football Federation officials nor team officials thereby exposing the young players to danger. Others were flew to Lagos and Kano.

In 2003, former Chelsea midfieder and Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi was one of the unsuccessful Austin Eguavoen led Golden Eaglets that was knocked out in the group stage of the competition (2003 CAF U17 AFCON). Despite their failure at the competition, Mikel went ahead to win laurels for Nigeria at the U20 FIFA World Cup, African Nations Cup and at the Olympic.

It is appalling for either CAF and particularly NFF to treat the five times World champions in such manner.